Ronald McComb

Ronald "Ron" McComb Hickory Corners Ronald "Ron" McComb, age 92, of Hickory Corners, MI, longtime Battle Creek businessman, passed away Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at The Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, surrounded by his loving family. Ron was born in Battle Creek, Michigan to Charles Nordman McComb and Rosebell (Warner) McComb on April 20, 1916. He graduated from Battle Creek Central High School in 1934 where he played clarinet and saxophone in the Battle Creek Central Band and Orchestra under Mr. Paul Tammy. He enjoyed a lifelong involvement with music. During his high school years, at the height of the Great Depression, Ron sold lunch and break time snacks to workers at Michigan Carton and Michigan Steam Pump, along with several other foundry and manufacturing companies in the Battle Creek area, from a homemade food wagon (which he converted to a sled during the winter months), establishing the basis for his future success in the grocery business. After graduating from high school, Ron became a route salesman for the Hostess Cake Company covering Southwest Michigan. During this same period, he formed a band named "The Rhythm Rascals" with his brother, Lynn McComb. He was also a stand-in musician for several touring bands that came through West Michigan and played saxophone and clarinet with them in many of the clubs and dancehalls that existed in the Battle Creek area at the time. In 1937, Ron purchased property at 487 Main Street in Battle Creek and established The Cut Rate Food Shop, forerunner of the Cut Rate Supermarket chain that grew to four stores and served the Battle Creek area until 1985 when he sold the stores and retired. During World War II, Ron served in the U.S. Navy as a Naval Aviation Storekeeper, entering the Navy at The Great Lakes Facility in Illinois, then training at the Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida and finally was stationed at the Naval Air Station at Olathe, Kansas. Upon his discharge in 1945, he returned to Battle Creek and continued building his grocery business, which had been operated by his father during his military service. In 1964, he married the former Wanda Bates, and the couple has resided at the Hickory Corners address since that time. Since his retirement in 1985, Ron has greatly enjoyed traveling, spending time with his family and relaxing at his home at Gull Lake. He also enjoyed staying in touch with the Grocery business through frequent visits to his son Dennis', Main Street Market, where he was able to meet many of his former customers. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Wanda; his sons: Ronald McComb, Jr. and daughter-in-law Fusako (Teruya) McComb of Battle Creek, and Dennis McComb and Gini (Arnold) Haffner of Battle Creek; daughter: Carol Jean (McComb) Conant of Minneapolis, MN and son-in-law Donald Conant of Lowell, MI; a stepdaughter: Pricilla (Bates) Olsen of Battle Creek and a stepson: Terry Bates of Battle Creek; as well as his grandsons: Charles McComb of Perth, Australia, Chad McComb of Battle Creek, Jason Conant, and granddaughter-in-law Clare Pollert of Grand Rapids, MI; granddaughters: Wendi McComb and grandson-in-law Donald Puetz of Battle Creek and Lisa (Jones) Elliott of North Carolina; as well as three stepgrandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Visitation after 9:00 a.m. today at the Richard A. Henry Funeral Home, 703 Capital Avenue, S.W., Battle Creek where the family will be present from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, September 29, 2008 at the Family Altar Chapel, 14844 6½Mile Road with the Rev. Travis Davis officiating. A memorial celebration in Ron's honor will be held at the Waterfront Restaurant following his interment at Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions to The Alzheimer's Association are requested by his family. This small act will create a lasting memorial to Ron's life by helping to put an end to this debilitating disease.